Week 4 done!

So that's week 4 done. We have a long weekend then into week 5.

I am pretty tired now all the time, and seem to feel the cold a lot more than I usually do. Some nights I am awake much of the night coughing to try to clear me throat. I used a whole box of tissue last night! No doubt this isn't helping with the tiredness.

Chemo today did it's usual trick of hydrating me nicely though by now my throat is getting extremely dry and sore (I had thought it couldn't get worse but there you go)

Half way

Last night's radio marked the half way point of the treatment :)

We had our training on how to use the food pump yesterday and I'm now on continuous feed, which takes about 10 hours, though the pump is portable so it isn't overly inconvenient.  Having more calories is making me feel a whole lot better, as is not trying to force down food through a throat that is just too sore.  I can't begin to imagine how people manage through this without the PEG (much as I hate the thing).

My two day's of anti-sickness (post chemo) is almost over again, which is a relief as I suffer from hiccups as a side effect of the Zofran.  Having hiccups for two days a week seems a cruel and unnecessary additional thing to deal with.

I'm now eager to get another week out of the way.

Week 3

We're halfway through week 3 - by the time chemo is over tomorrow we'll be pretty much half way through the treatment.  They did warn that things tended to get worse around now, and I have to say that they really have.  Since the weekend eating has been close to impossible, though strangely it was marginally better this morning so I managed to get a tiny bowl of very wet cereals down.  However, my weigh-in on Monday showed a 6lb loss of weight, so I'm having to 'bolus feed' now, which is syringe feeding through the PEG.  It's actually not too stressful, though it is slow and messy and tends to leave me bloated and over full.  Training on use of the food pump is scheduled for Friday.

A bigger problem is the cough I get on and off all night, which for the past two nights has stopped me sleeping much.  Not sure if there's much that can be done, but will ask the doctors again today.  I am very tired, though, so hope it is just a phase and that it passes.

Chemo 2/6, end of week 2

By dinner time today I'll be done with week 2, one third of the way through...

Had a few days of nausea this week, only mild but most of the time and it put me off my food, so I had to force myself to eat.  Eating actually made it better, so it was worth it.

Chemo day was relatively pleasant - I think the constant hydration and the anti-sickness drugs made me feel better than I had all week.  I got some tablets to calm my stomach, and they told me to take the mild anti-sickness meds all week if I felt the need (they could let me take the stronger ones too, but the side-effects aren't attractive so I am declining for now).  I felt well enough to have a mild curry last night, and found it moderately enjoyable (though it did taste a bit odd).

I managed to get a bit of sleep, though I was awake at 5am.  I managed to stay in bed dozing and then got up at 6am with Daniel.  Sat working, webbing and listening to the radio since then, as I don't really fancy lounging on the sofa.  Sadly today my throat is a little sore for the first time so I guess that's started.  Two weeks without any real pain is a good run, and it isn't so bad that eating it too hard yet.  Will see what the next few days hold.

I've gotten to know a few of the other guys (it seems to be mostly men) who are on similar treatment programs at the hospital.  One of them is a week ahead of me, so is a handy guide of what might be coming - he is using the PEG to feed already, and finding it OK.  I'll see how quickly eating gets unbearable, but will try to hold out for another week or two (though I'm realistic and know I might have to revise that plan).

The challenge that is lunch next, for which I might just take the easy option of scrambled eggs :)

One week done

Only 5 more to go. It seems like a long time but I know it will pass more quickly than expected.

The slight nausea is slowly subsiding though it is taking an effort to be interested in food. I can see why, once the sense of taste starts to go, people just don't want to eat. Mine is still mostly intact and my appetite is waning.

Whilst I am pretty tired and my mouth is drier than usual I don't feel too bad. It will get worse, I know!

So a couple of days off and then back to hospital on Monday morning to review my progress (and have another dose of radio of course).

I was very touched to receive an envelope with what looks like one origami paper crane per Amadeus employee, which I am reliably informed is a variation on a Japanese custom where 1000 paper cranes are given to someone who is ill or otherwise in difficulty. Daniel was very impressed too :-)

Chemotherapy 1/6

I had the first chemo treatment today and the 4th radio. I have season 1 of Falling Skies on my Nexus, so I spent most of the day watching that. On the whole an ok day. I was then put to the top of the queue for radio so we were home at a sensible time before Daniel went to bed.

I have a huge stack of anti-sickness meds to take tonight until Sunday, but they don't anticipate any problems.

We also had to get a proper thermometer as any infection (and associated rise in temperature) has to be spotted, and generally leads to immediate admission to hospital for IV antibiotics. Fingers crossed we don't need it.

Feeling OK, hopefully won't feel too sick, one more radio this week and week 1 is over :)

Radiotherapy 1/30

One down, 29 to go. Staying still with my head fastened down in a mask for 20 minutes is manageable now but I can't imagine what it will be like when things get sore. However, it is only brief and will no doubt be something I get used to.